Systems and methods for ablative treatment of irritable bowel disease

Abstract

Methods, systems, and devices are described for treating diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, including ulcerative colitis, by delivering ablative energy to a tissue surface of the gastrointestinal tract and ablating the tissue to a controlled depth. Ablating the tissue may include removing a biofilm layer or coagulating tissue.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for treating ulcerative colitis in a patient, the method comprising:
 delivering energy to a tissue surface of a tissue within the large intestine of the patient; and   ablating the tissue with the delivered energy to a controlled depth.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein ablating the tissue comprises removing a biofilm layer at least partially covering the tissue surface. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein ablating the tissue comprises removing a biofilm layer at least partially penetrating below the tissue surface. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein ablating the tissue comprises coagulating tissue within the mucosal layers of the tissue. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein ablating the tissue comprises coagulating tissue below the mucosal layers of the tissue. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein ablating the tissue comprises ablating under conditions selected to initiate regrowth of healthy mucosal tissue. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein ablating the tissue comprises defunctionalizing degenerated arborized nerve fibers within the tissue. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein ablating the tissue to a controlled depth comprises controlling a duration of the delivery of energy. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein ablating the tissue to a controlled depth comprises controlling an energy density of the delivered energy. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein ablating the tissue to a controlled depth comprises controlling a temperature of the tissue surface during the delivery of energy. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein delivering energy to the tissue surface comprises delivering energy into crypts within the tissue. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein delivering energy to the tissue surface comprises delivering energy to a fully circumferential portion of the large intestine. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein delivering energy to the tissue surface comprises delivering energy to a partially circumferential portion of the large intestine. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein delivering energy to the tissue surface comprises at least partially filling a volume of a section of the large intestine with a plasma. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the energy comprises bipolar radiofrequency energy, monopolar radiofrequency energy, saline-mediated plasma radiofrequency energy, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the energy comprises ultrasonic energy. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the energy comprises a thermal plasma or a non-thermal plasma. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the energy comprises laser energy. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the energy comprises cryothermal energy. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 delivering a pharmaceutical substance to the tissue surface.